The Kibbie Dome will light up the night in Moscow, Idaho on Saturday when Idaho hosts UAlbany for a 10 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN+. This quarterfinal matchup of the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds in the FCS playoffs features two of the most captivating young quarterbacks in the subdivision.
Only one will advance to the semis to take on the winner of Villanova and South Dakota State’s quarterfinal. Idaho is in its first quarters since 1993 after surviving Southern Illinois’ second-round push to overtime last week, while UAlbany is making its first appearance this deep in the FCS bracket in program history.
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Idaho’s Offense vs. UAlbany’s Defense
UAlbany’s best season in recent memory, arguably ever, begins with the Great Danes’ defense, which boasts Buck Buchanan Award finalist senior linebacker Dylan Kelly and a fellow senior in defensive end Anton Juncaj holding down the front. Kelly has mowed down ball carriers this fall to the tune of 148 total tackles, including 84 solo. Juncaj finished fifth in Buchanan voting and has an FCS-best 14 solo sacks to his name in 2023.
Idaho is coming off a challenging outing on offense against SIU in which the Vandals scored three first-half points and finished 4-of-13 on third down vs. the Salukis’ 8-of-16.
While the Danes bring the aforementioned imposing defense (27 turnovers gained) westward this Saturday, you wonder if Idaho is more likely to get back on track offensively in its second playoff game of this run. UAlbany has logged a lot of miles this season with its two FBS games (one at Hawaii), and that could catch up to the visitors in the dome this week. New York State to Moscow is reminiscent of Maine schlepping to Eastern Washington as far as CAA Football/Big Sky playoff trips go.
Idaho redshirt sophomore quarterback Gevani McCoy and redshirt junior receiver Hayden Hatten form one of the best connections in the FCS. Hatten is third nationally with his 1,096 receiving yards and has notched nine touchdown catches.
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UAlbany’s Offense vs. Idaho’s Defense
On paper, UAlbany can make this thing a shootout if necessary: QB Reese Poffenbarger leads the CAA with 33 touchdown passes. Poffenbarger is aided by Griffin Woodell’s 790 rushing yards on the season and by Brevin Easton’s 827 receiving yards.
Idaho will look to limit all the above with its FCS No. 6 total defense (294 YPG allowed). That figure is remarkable when one takes into account Idaho’s Big Sky schedule including the likes of Montana and Montana State, plus the non-conference resume adding games against FBS Nevada and Cal.
The strength of schedule adds to the proven Idaho defense. Last time out vs. Southern Illinois, though, the Vandals’ best defense came in the well-rounded form of…
Special Teams
Special teams sent Idaho into the quarterfinals. The Vandals scored their first touchdown of the SIU game over halfway through the third quarter via Jermaine Jackson’s 86-yard punt return.
Idaho converted field goals of 40 and 29 yards by Ricardo Chavez, the latter of which sealed the OT victory.
The home team also came up clutch with Xe’Ree Alexander’s block of the Salukis’ attempted game-winning FG at the end of regulation.
These special, special teams bolstered Idaho to overcome being outgained, though slightly and for the first time this season, 310-293.
As for UA, the Great Danes will need to give McCoy plenty of long fields to drive in the comfort of his own building in a second straight week. The trouble is that UAlbany has just two kickoff touchbacks booted this season and is netting the fewest yards on kickoffs in the CAA.
